Chapter 15
Yunie and the others must be ahead, thought Rikku. By now her tears had vanished, when she, Gippal, and Auron waited in line at the restaurant in Bevelle. She gazed around at the cream-colored scheme all around the restaurant, the flower arrangements, and Yuna and Tidus holding hands across their tiny table in the center, decorated with a bouquet of red roses and a single burning candle.
Praetor Baralai met them at the counter, going about businessmindedly since both Auron and Rikku looked bitterly unhappy. Auron cast his eyes upon the leader of New Yevon for the first time. Baralai's white hair stood up under the supports of a sturdy blue headband like Rikku's, and a high- collared green robe with New Yevon emblems cloaked him, with its long tail hanging down the young praetor's back. A yellow decorative sash lined his waist over khaki-colored pants tucked into brown suede boots.
"You guys must be the rest of Lady Yuna's party. I have two tables left, each are tables for two. There's one over there by Lady Yuna, and the other is in the corner. Good to have you join us this evening." Baralai's voice was rich and drawling, yet his kind golden-brown eyes clashed so unusually with his mocha-colored skin that he looked like a rather suspicious person.
"Hey, man!" Gippal punched his friend's shoulder playfully. "You are coming to Yuna's concert tonight, right? Nooj and Leblanc'll be there, and I'm sure Paine's looking forward to seeing ya!"
Baralai rubbed his shoulder, looking bothered by Gippal's antics. "Er, yes. An invitation from Lady Yuna is not one to turn down, is it? If you don't mind Gippal, please take your seat, and.... Hey! Paine would like to see me? Really???"
Auron sat solely at the table Baralai pointed out in the far back corner, where nervous waiters shuffled in and out. He leaned back, ordered yet another glass of brandy, and stretched out his long legs. Rikku and Gippal sat down at the table near Yuna and Tidus. Auron only sipped his brandy, watching them.
He didn't even pull out the chair for the lady, Auron commented to himself. What a clown.
The moment he sat down, Gippal began exchanging gallant and victorious smiles with those that greeted him-or for that matter, even bothered to acknowledge his presence by looking at him. He seemed so proud of himself, so cool and confident, that he looked as if he'd won back his on-and-off girlfriend. Rikku sighed and crossed her ankles together under the peach tablecloth. The white candle burned between them and Gippal almost burned his menu in it, extending its leather cover and waving the flame around. Rikku could tell this was going to be one hell of a long night.
"Isn't this great?" Gippal began in Spira's more common language.
"Yeah. Awesome," Rikku replied in a stale tone, just to be speaking.
"Yo!! Yo!!!" Gippal hollered to a waiter. "How's about some white wine?... Yeah, thanks, buddy!" It felt like all of Spira's eyes were burning into the two of them at that table.
How did I know this would happen? Just how did I know? Rikku thought.
Her date turned and looked at Rikku again. "You look beautiful."
"Oh, really? Thank you." At least that was better. No more calling her "hot stuff" or "baby" or anything over-possessive. He cared about her, that was obvious, but she'd had it up to her eyeballs in just flirting and playing games.
Over in the corner, Paine was still in her black warrior's outfit and sat down across from Auron, though not blocking his view of Rikku and Gippal, who were at an angle to him.
"Would it bother you if I joined you, Sir Auron?" The reflection of the candle flame danced in her rather lovely crimson eyes and her face portrayed an unfeigned disappointment; she knew more or less what was going on between them now.
"Not at all, sit," Auron welcomed her with a nice gesture. "Should I get you some brandy, too?"
"I'd like that, thank you, sir. And please, don't look so upset."
"Why should I be upset?" Auron said, though his eyebrows drooped lower and a slight pout appeared on his face.
Paine crossed her arms against her stomach, leaned over, and shot him a knowing look. "It's none of my business, I know, Sir Auron, but the truth is that Rikku was so happy to see you... she forgot all about Gippal."
"Right. So she led me on without even telling me about her boyfriend."
Auron almost winced in anguish as Paine settled her hand onto his forearm, tenderly and in a way that was unlike her usual cold self. "Don't be like that. Rikku really, really likes your company. She didn't want to hurt you. You'll have to believe that." Paine, too, looked troubled by the thought of him and Rikku on less-than-pleasant terms. Her face seemed to wilt with concern and parts of her silver-brown bangs hid her eyes.
"Okay. But it was still a bad idea, forgetting about a prior date. Irresponsible. Especially when she already has a boyfriend, for Yevon's sake," Auron complained, gripping his aching forehead and swallowing some more alcohol, adding in the mention of Yevon as an old habit.
"Ehrmmm... Nah, I wouldn't say that. Gippal's not a very reliable guy. Nice, though. A lot like Rikku, but Gippal's not reliable. He lacks the kind of sincere determination that Rikku needs mutually. Call it an observation."
"Should I really be convinced?"
"Do they look like a happy pair to you right now?" Paine swiveled her eyes over their way to indicate the blond Al Bhed couple.
"Gippal sure looks happy as a clown."
"He loves life. He can't accept boredom, so he makes his own fun, real or just in his imagination. Kind of sad, but he just hates disappointments probably more than you do. The bottom line is," Paine explained, accepting her brandy from the waiter, "Rikku really wants to be with you right now. You just have to wait around to hear her say that, but I promise you she'll come around. Give her another chance. It was just a bad time, and she doesn't operate well when she's tied up like that."
"Thank you. You're a great person to listen to."
"Don't mention it," Paine said, smiling and getting up. "Now isn't the perfect time at all, but just wait and see. And thanks for the brandy. See you at the concert, Sir Auron!"
Back at the other table, the white wine came, then Rikku took time to fully observe everything around her and fought against the radiance of the chandeliers and candles that were shining as if they were sun rays pointed directly into her face. The pleasant chatter coming from tables all around them, a few in Al Bhed, but mostly about love, drowned out and sometimes synchronized with the soft piano music and occasional string ensembles fading in and out. The smells of wine and gourmet coffee plus the aromas coming from the special sweets blended into one taste that diffused all throughout the air of pleasant temperature.
"Cu, ruf ryfa oui paah[So, how have you been]?" Gippal asked in an eager tone, though not seeming to really care, as his face was buried in the menu and most likely drooling over the expensive selections that Baralai would be paying for.
"Good," Rikku forced, not giving him the satisfaction of hearing her speak in their native language. Of course he wouldn't catch on that she was in a bad mood, so what the hell.
She looks bored. Was this her only boyfriend? Is she going to think of me that way too? Auron continued watching freely, as no one even seemed to notice him. He made a mental note of the sunglasses tucked away inside his pocket, lest it should become difficult to keep watching.
"E'fa seccat oui[I've missed you]," Gippal continued after placing their orders. "You know, I... E drehg ypuid oui y mud[I think about you a lot]."
"Thanks," Rikku said glumly. "I... wonder what you're doing, too."
Gippal went off on a tangent and began a long-winded discription of the projects of the Al Bhed Machine Faction. Rikku tried to pretend she was genuinely interested in hearing about what she'd missed among her people since she joined the Gullwings. Just how busy Gippal was going to be for the rest of their renewed relationship was all she cared to know.
"Are you very happy, sphere hunting?" Gippal asked her when he saw that she may as well have fallen asleep.
"We have a lot of fun." At last she felt the relief of being allowed to speak honestly. "It's not as rewarding a job as yours, really, but we get to fly everywhere and see lots of stuff."
"I often think, I should someday drag you away from your frivolity, baby, and let you partake in some of our adventures. It'd be a lot more fun, if you were with me, Rikku."
"What kind of adventures?" Rikku spiraled her fingertip around the rim of her wine glass.
With hands outspread, Gippal spoke lively and descriptively, showing her whatever he could with enthusiastic gestures. "There's this huge machina buried within the Sanubia Sands, I just know it... we keep finding bigger and bigger pieces of machina in the Northern Expanse, and we want to make the biggest excavation in years! And with the popular and pretty Al Bhed of the Gullwings-that is, yourself-I thought maybe you might be interested in helping us raise enough money to begin the excavation. I've been thinking about it for a long time."
"Really, now."
I could have told you years ago that there was a machina underneath the desert. And did ya ever stop to think that maybe you're salvaging the remains of our Home, "baby"?
Letting out a sigh, she rested her arms up onto the tablecloth, elbows straddling her untouched salad, and leaned her head against her folded hands. All her breath escaped her as she caught sight of Auron out of the corner of her eye. His pretty, exposed brown eyes seemed to delve into her and Gippal.
Soon I'll get this over with, she determined. I don't think things will be the same as before, but I should at least set things straight.
"Yeah! We can... rekindle all the magic there was before. Between us." Gippal licked the sauce off his lips, set down his fork, and looked her straight in the eyes. "Your childish games are so cute, Rikku, but we need you. You can't forget you're Al Bhed, sugar, no matter what anyone tells you or who tries to get in the way of that. You should pursue Spira's history the way your own people do."
Rikku gritted her teeth and said nothing. The Gullwings did mean something to her, and something dear. So what if she'd followed the ways of the other races! Brother had picked up the common language, and most of the crew aboard the Celsius was Al Bhed anyway. What was the big idea? No matter what the Al Bhed Machine Faction did, they were a nice group and all, but as long as there were the Gullwings, and as long as Lady Yuna followed their team as an active member, they would always outdo the Faction's accomplishments. Always.
"Yba oui ymnekrd[Are you alright]?"
"Sure. I... I just... It's kind of overwhelming, seeing you alone like this for the first time in so long."
"Oh!!" Gippal said suddenly, raising his wine glass. "Let's toast! How about it, sweetie?"
"Yeah. While we're here, why not?"
"Well, don't be so optimistic."
"Sorry. I'm just thinking on what you said."
"What a good girl. Here's to you, the beautiful Rikku, to me, and to our Machine Faction!" Gippal leaned his head back and drank heartily. "I love it here tonight. Life is good, especially with a pretty, and fun woman to talk to."
He'd said our Machine Faction. Rikku wondered what he was getting at.
"So what do you think of that, Rikku?"
"I... it's an interesting offer."
"Yeah! You and me owning the Machine Faction together. It's a brilliant movement, baby. I thought we might face things as they are. It only makes sense, right? You and me knowing each other for so long, and being together for so many times..."
Yeah, "baby", but you're forgetting we've broken up so many times. For stupid reasons.
"Okay..." Rikku sipped her wine and looked at him in a rather catty way. "What influenced this big decision all of a sudden?"
Gippal reached over and lay his large hand upon Rikku's small, gloved one.
"E mufa oui[I love you]."
Auron had been watching for so long now that it had started to become boring, watching Rikku with her shoulders slumped in boredom, and Gippal leaning back like a proud king, his arm hanging over the back of his chair like he was really a somebody. Or maybe he was, Auron didn't know too well, so his reaction to seeing Gippal's hand over Rikku's didn't come as a surprise to anyone.
"That's it, I think I need a whiskey now. Or anything harder, if you don't mind," Auron said roughly to his waiter, without meaning to be rude. He tapped his fingers against the sides of his empty brandy glass with nervous anticipation. Should Gippal dare to make one more move, he might not be able to keep himself from striding up to the couple and saying anything... or doing anything to Gippal. When the younger man didn't move his hand, Auron forgot about his order, blew out the annoying candle on his tiny table, and got up without a word, seeking the door.
Rikku's breath became shaky but she didn't bother calling up the strength to begin crying. Nothing really surprised her anymore, yet seeing Auron leave after staying so faithfully for the first few moments only inflicted more pain upon her vulnerable heart. She knew that this wasn't what Auron needed right now, and she didn't want this either, but what went on every time Auron became this upset? Where would he go?
"Rikku? Baby, what's the matter? Did I say something wrong?" Gippal finally retracted her hand and stared at her, perplexed.
"Okay, look." Rikku threw down her napkin and decided to speak in Al Bhed for the first time since they walked in. "You are my friend, at least, and I know I can tell you this. So, Gippal, I'm very sorry, but, E ryja udran drehkc uh so seht. E ryja sujat uh. Drec ec kaddekh geht uv umd, tuh'd oui drehg? Fa gaab pnaygehk ib yht kaddekh pylg dukadran vun dra sucd ypcint naycuhc. E lyh'd pa jano esbundyhd du oui yvdan ymm palyica oui hajan ajah lruuca du syga dra desa vun sa. Yht ed fyc hajan muja. Ruf luimt drana buccepmo ryja ajan paah muja? E tuh'd ihtancdyht oui.
[...I have other things on my mind. I have moved on. This is getting kind of old, don't you think? We keep breaking up and getting back together for the most absurd reasons. I can't be very important to you after all because you never even choose to make the time for me. And it was never love. How could there possibly have ever been love? I don't understand you.]"
Auron turned around as he thought he saw her springing up, out of the corner of his eye. Everyone else turned around too, making strange looks at the pretty girl in green who was going off at her boyfriend in strings of Al Bhed. Yuna and Tidus ceased their happy, deep conversation for a moment and tried hiding their joyful smiles at the knowledge that Rikku might turn back to Auron now. Some force that had settled deep within him forced him to crack a smile at the scene. While he listened to her, though not understanding most of it, he made his way to the front door of the restaurant and waited for her there.
And upon all of Spira, he swore the last person he wanted to be at that moment was Gippal. He didn't watch to see if Rikku would leave him with even a polite "good night" or just stalked off wordlessly. He was actually afraid that Rikku would be fuming, or worse, crying. But seeing that she was perfectly fine when she approached him, his heart loosened in relief.
"Auron, I'm having a terrible time," Rikku told him, looking down at her shoes with a guilty, childlike smile on her face.
"Ah, I was beginning to wonder when my date would come," he said in a somewhat joking manner, taking Rikku's hand and holding it to his chest. "Do you know I did this especially for you?"
"How did you do it?"
"I kept your concept of dresspheres in mind, so I talked to Shinra and he came up with this for awhile. It's kind of a dressphere, but not really. It's the effect of sphere waves versus the pyreflies. I just gave him one of Jecht's old spheres, and he extracted all the images of me."
Rikku looked perturbed. "That's not fair. He rarely ever does things like that for us. Wonder what you did to make him agree to it."
"You look pretty anytime," Auron told her sweetly, still holding her hand, "so you don't need much if any. But all Shinra wanted was a handshake and an autograph! Very talented, smart kid, he is."
"Shinra's the whiz kid alright," Rikku sighed. "Earlier I meant to say sorry you can't see him that well. He's a ten-year-old child genius and wears it like a crown. So... um... what now?"
"Are we leaving?"
"I guess."
"I thought you might at least want to stay for cake and champagne."
"Not now, I don't. I just want to get out of here. I don't care if Brother gives him a ride home later, but while he's here, I can't have a good time. Anywhere but here would be nice."
"Well, then, I can take you outside at least. We can sit on the airship for awhile, or something--"
"Auron?" Rikku tilted her head up at him, her eyes pleading like a little girl's.
"Hmm?" he looked down at her, exercising his twenty-five-year-old voice and freedom to use both eyes without a painful struggle to lift his right eyelid.
"I came to apologize. And to ask you if you'd like to be my date at the party and concert."
Auron smiled, forming creases along his clean-shaven face and tapping her nose lovingly with a fingertip. "I thought I might have to wait around until you were quiet enough for me to ask you."
"Heyyy!" Rikku nudged him, then took his arm in the same fashion that she did Gippal a little more than half an hour ago.
Yunie and the others must be ahead, thought Rikku. By now her tears had vanished, when she, Gippal, and Auron waited in line at the restaurant in Bevelle. She gazed around at the cream-colored scheme all around the restaurant, the flower arrangements, and Yuna and Tidus holding hands across their tiny table in the center, decorated with a bouquet of red roses and a single burning candle.
Praetor Baralai met them at the counter, going about businessmindedly since both Auron and Rikku looked bitterly unhappy. Auron cast his eyes upon the leader of New Yevon for the first time. Baralai's white hair stood up under the supports of a sturdy blue headband like Rikku's, and a high- collared green robe with New Yevon emblems cloaked him, with its long tail hanging down the young praetor's back. A yellow decorative sash lined his waist over khaki-colored pants tucked into brown suede boots.
"You guys must be the rest of Lady Yuna's party. I have two tables left, each are tables for two. There's one over there by Lady Yuna, and the other is in the corner. Good to have you join us this evening." Baralai's voice was rich and drawling, yet his kind golden-brown eyes clashed so unusually with his mocha-colored skin that he looked like a rather suspicious person.
"Hey, man!" Gippal punched his friend's shoulder playfully. "You are coming to Yuna's concert tonight, right? Nooj and Leblanc'll be there, and I'm sure Paine's looking forward to seeing ya!"
Baralai rubbed his shoulder, looking bothered by Gippal's antics. "Er, yes. An invitation from Lady Yuna is not one to turn down, is it? If you don't mind Gippal, please take your seat, and.... Hey! Paine would like to see me? Really???"
Auron sat solely at the table Baralai pointed out in the far back corner, where nervous waiters shuffled in and out. He leaned back, ordered yet another glass of brandy, and stretched out his long legs. Rikku and Gippal sat down at the table near Yuna and Tidus. Auron only sipped his brandy, watching them.
He didn't even pull out the chair for the lady, Auron commented to himself. What a clown.
The moment he sat down, Gippal began exchanging gallant and victorious smiles with those that greeted him-or for that matter, even bothered to acknowledge his presence by looking at him. He seemed so proud of himself, so cool and confident, that he looked as if he'd won back his on-and-off girlfriend. Rikku sighed and crossed her ankles together under the peach tablecloth. The white candle burned between them and Gippal almost burned his menu in it, extending its leather cover and waving the flame around. Rikku could tell this was going to be one hell of a long night.
"Isn't this great?" Gippal began in Spira's more common language.
"Yeah. Awesome," Rikku replied in a stale tone, just to be speaking.
"Yo!! Yo!!!" Gippal hollered to a waiter. "How's about some white wine?... Yeah, thanks, buddy!" It felt like all of Spira's eyes were burning into the two of them at that table.
How did I know this would happen? Just how did I know? Rikku thought.
Her date turned and looked at Rikku again. "You look beautiful."
"Oh, really? Thank you." At least that was better. No more calling her "hot stuff" or "baby" or anything over-possessive. He cared about her, that was obvious, but she'd had it up to her eyeballs in just flirting and playing games.
Over in the corner, Paine was still in her black warrior's outfit and sat down across from Auron, though not blocking his view of Rikku and Gippal, who were at an angle to him.
"Would it bother you if I joined you, Sir Auron?" The reflection of the candle flame danced in her rather lovely crimson eyes and her face portrayed an unfeigned disappointment; she knew more or less what was going on between them now.
"Not at all, sit," Auron welcomed her with a nice gesture. "Should I get you some brandy, too?"
"I'd like that, thank you, sir. And please, don't look so upset."
"Why should I be upset?" Auron said, though his eyebrows drooped lower and a slight pout appeared on his face.
Paine crossed her arms against her stomach, leaned over, and shot him a knowing look. "It's none of my business, I know, Sir Auron, but the truth is that Rikku was so happy to see you... she forgot all about Gippal."
"Right. So she led me on without even telling me about her boyfriend."
Auron almost winced in anguish as Paine settled her hand onto his forearm, tenderly and in a way that was unlike her usual cold self. "Don't be like that. Rikku really, really likes your company. She didn't want to hurt you. You'll have to believe that." Paine, too, looked troubled by the thought of him and Rikku on less-than-pleasant terms. Her face seemed to wilt with concern and parts of her silver-brown bangs hid her eyes.
"Okay. But it was still a bad idea, forgetting about a prior date. Irresponsible. Especially when she already has a boyfriend, for Yevon's sake," Auron complained, gripping his aching forehead and swallowing some more alcohol, adding in the mention of Yevon as an old habit.
"Ehrmmm... Nah, I wouldn't say that. Gippal's not a very reliable guy. Nice, though. A lot like Rikku, but Gippal's not reliable. He lacks the kind of sincere determination that Rikku needs mutually. Call it an observation."
"Should I really be convinced?"
"Do they look like a happy pair to you right now?" Paine swiveled her eyes over their way to indicate the blond Al Bhed couple.
"Gippal sure looks happy as a clown."
"He loves life. He can't accept boredom, so he makes his own fun, real or just in his imagination. Kind of sad, but he just hates disappointments probably more than you do. The bottom line is," Paine explained, accepting her brandy from the waiter, "Rikku really wants to be with you right now. You just have to wait around to hear her say that, but I promise you she'll come around. Give her another chance. It was just a bad time, and she doesn't operate well when she's tied up like that."
"Thank you. You're a great person to listen to."
"Don't mention it," Paine said, smiling and getting up. "Now isn't the perfect time at all, but just wait and see. And thanks for the brandy. See you at the concert, Sir Auron!"
Back at the other table, the white wine came, then Rikku took time to fully observe everything around her and fought against the radiance of the chandeliers and candles that were shining as if they were sun rays pointed directly into her face. The pleasant chatter coming from tables all around them, a few in Al Bhed, but mostly about love, drowned out and sometimes synchronized with the soft piano music and occasional string ensembles fading in and out. The smells of wine and gourmet coffee plus the aromas coming from the special sweets blended into one taste that diffused all throughout the air of pleasant temperature.
"Cu, ruf ryfa oui paah[So, how have you been]?" Gippal asked in an eager tone, though not seeming to really care, as his face was buried in the menu and most likely drooling over the expensive selections that Baralai would be paying for.
"Good," Rikku forced, not giving him the satisfaction of hearing her speak in their native language. Of course he wouldn't catch on that she was in a bad mood, so what the hell.
She looks bored. Was this her only boyfriend? Is she going to think of me that way too? Auron continued watching freely, as no one even seemed to notice him. He made a mental note of the sunglasses tucked away inside his pocket, lest it should become difficult to keep watching.
"E'fa seccat oui[I've missed you]," Gippal continued after placing their orders. "You know, I... E drehg ypuid oui y mud[I think about you a lot]."
"Thanks," Rikku said glumly. "I... wonder what you're doing, too."
Gippal went off on a tangent and began a long-winded discription of the projects of the Al Bhed Machine Faction. Rikku tried to pretend she was genuinely interested in hearing about what she'd missed among her people since she joined the Gullwings. Just how busy Gippal was going to be for the rest of their renewed relationship was all she cared to know.
"Are you very happy, sphere hunting?" Gippal asked her when he saw that she may as well have fallen asleep.
"We have a lot of fun." At last she felt the relief of being allowed to speak honestly. "It's not as rewarding a job as yours, really, but we get to fly everywhere and see lots of stuff."
"I often think, I should someday drag you away from your frivolity, baby, and let you partake in some of our adventures. It'd be a lot more fun, if you were with me, Rikku."
"What kind of adventures?" Rikku spiraled her fingertip around the rim of her wine glass.
With hands outspread, Gippal spoke lively and descriptively, showing her whatever he could with enthusiastic gestures. "There's this huge machina buried within the Sanubia Sands, I just know it... we keep finding bigger and bigger pieces of machina in the Northern Expanse, and we want to make the biggest excavation in years! And with the popular and pretty Al Bhed of the Gullwings-that is, yourself-I thought maybe you might be interested in helping us raise enough money to begin the excavation. I've been thinking about it for a long time."
"Really, now."
I could have told you years ago that there was a machina underneath the desert. And did ya ever stop to think that maybe you're salvaging the remains of our Home, "baby"?
Letting out a sigh, she rested her arms up onto the tablecloth, elbows straddling her untouched salad, and leaned her head against her folded hands. All her breath escaped her as she caught sight of Auron out of the corner of her eye. His pretty, exposed brown eyes seemed to delve into her and Gippal.
Soon I'll get this over with, she determined. I don't think things will be the same as before, but I should at least set things straight.
"Yeah! We can... rekindle all the magic there was before. Between us." Gippal licked the sauce off his lips, set down his fork, and looked her straight in the eyes. "Your childish games are so cute, Rikku, but we need you. You can't forget you're Al Bhed, sugar, no matter what anyone tells you or who tries to get in the way of that. You should pursue Spira's history the way your own people do."
Rikku gritted her teeth and said nothing. The Gullwings did mean something to her, and something dear. So what if she'd followed the ways of the other races! Brother had picked up the common language, and most of the crew aboard the Celsius was Al Bhed anyway. What was the big idea? No matter what the Al Bhed Machine Faction did, they were a nice group and all, but as long as there were the Gullwings, and as long as Lady Yuna followed their team as an active member, they would always outdo the Faction's accomplishments. Always.
"Yba oui ymnekrd[Are you alright]?"
"Sure. I... I just... It's kind of overwhelming, seeing you alone like this for the first time in so long."
"Oh!!" Gippal said suddenly, raising his wine glass. "Let's toast! How about it, sweetie?"
"Yeah. While we're here, why not?"
"Well, don't be so optimistic."
"Sorry. I'm just thinking on what you said."
"What a good girl. Here's to you, the beautiful Rikku, to me, and to our Machine Faction!" Gippal leaned his head back and drank heartily. "I love it here tonight. Life is good, especially with a pretty, and fun woman to talk to."
He'd said our Machine Faction. Rikku wondered what he was getting at.
"So what do you think of that, Rikku?"
"I... it's an interesting offer."
"Yeah! You and me owning the Machine Faction together. It's a brilliant movement, baby. I thought we might face things as they are. It only makes sense, right? You and me knowing each other for so long, and being together for so many times..."
Yeah, "baby", but you're forgetting we've broken up so many times. For stupid reasons.
"Okay..." Rikku sipped her wine and looked at him in a rather catty way. "What influenced this big decision all of a sudden?"
Gippal reached over and lay his large hand upon Rikku's small, gloved one.
"E mufa oui[I love you]."
Auron had been watching for so long now that it had started to become boring, watching Rikku with her shoulders slumped in boredom, and Gippal leaning back like a proud king, his arm hanging over the back of his chair like he was really a somebody. Or maybe he was, Auron didn't know too well, so his reaction to seeing Gippal's hand over Rikku's didn't come as a surprise to anyone.
"That's it, I think I need a whiskey now. Or anything harder, if you don't mind," Auron said roughly to his waiter, without meaning to be rude. He tapped his fingers against the sides of his empty brandy glass with nervous anticipation. Should Gippal dare to make one more move, he might not be able to keep himself from striding up to the couple and saying anything... or doing anything to Gippal. When the younger man didn't move his hand, Auron forgot about his order, blew out the annoying candle on his tiny table, and got up without a word, seeking the door.
Rikku's breath became shaky but she didn't bother calling up the strength to begin crying. Nothing really surprised her anymore, yet seeing Auron leave after staying so faithfully for the first few moments only inflicted more pain upon her vulnerable heart. She knew that this wasn't what Auron needed right now, and she didn't want this either, but what went on every time Auron became this upset? Where would he go?
"Rikku? Baby, what's the matter? Did I say something wrong?" Gippal finally retracted her hand and stared at her, perplexed.
"Okay, look." Rikku threw down her napkin and decided to speak in Al Bhed for the first time since they walked in. "You are my friend, at least, and I know I can tell you this. So, Gippal, I'm very sorry, but, E ryja udran drehkc uh so seht. E ryja sujat uh. Drec ec kaddekh geht uv umd, tuh'd oui drehg? Fa gaab pnaygehk ib yht kaddekh pylg dukadran vun dra sucd ypcint naycuhc. E lyh'd pa jano esbundyhd du oui yvdan ymm palyica oui hajan ajah lruuca du syga dra desa vun sa. Yht ed fyc hajan muja. Ruf luimt drana buccepmo ryja ajan paah muja? E tuh'd ihtancdyht oui.
[...I have other things on my mind. I have moved on. This is getting kind of old, don't you think? We keep breaking up and getting back together for the most absurd reasons. I can't be very important to you after all because you never even choose to make the time for me. And it was never love. How could there possibly have ever been love? I don't understand you.]"
Auron turned around as he thought he saw her springing up, out of the corner of his eye. Everyone else turned around too, making strange looks at the pretty girl in green who was going off at her boyfriend in strings of Al Bhed. Yuna and Tidus ceased their happy, deep conversation for a moment and tried hiding their joyful smiles at the knowledge that Rikku might turn back to Auron now. Some force that had settled deep within him forced him to crack a smile at the scene. While he listened to her, though not understanding most of it, he made his way to the front door of the restaurant and waited for her there.
And upon all of Spira, he swore the last person he wanted to be at that moment was Gippal. He didn't watch to see if Rikku would leave him with even a polite "good night" or just stalked off wordlessly. He was actually afraid that Rikku would be fuming, or worse, crying. But seeing that she was perfectly fine when she approached him, his heart loosened in relief.
"Auron, I'm having a terrible time," Rikku told him, looking down at her shoes with a guilty, childlike smile on her face.
"Ah, I was beginning to wonder when my date would come," he said in a somewhat joking manner, taking Rikku's hand and holding it to his chest. "Do you know I did this especially for you?"
"How did you do it?"
"I kept your concept of dresspheres in mind, so I talked to Shinra and he came up with this for awhile. It's kind of a dressphere, but not really. It's the effect of sphere waves versus the pyreflies. I just gave him one of Jecht's old spheres, and he extracted all the images of me."
Rikku looked perturbed. "That's not fair. He rarely ever does things like that for us. Wonder what you did to make him agree to it."
"You look pretty anytime," Auron told her sweetly, still holding her hand, "so you don't need much if any. But all Shinra wanted was a handshake and an autograph! Very talented, smart kid, he is."
"Shinra's the whiz kid alright," Rikku sighed. "Earlier I meant to say sorry you can't see him that well. He's a ten-year-old child genius and wears it like a crown. So... um... what now?"
"Are we leaving?"
"I guess."
"I thought you might at least want to stay for cake and champagne."
"Not now, I don't. I just want to get out of here. I don't care if Brother gives him a ride home later, but while he's here, I can't have a good time. Anywhere but here would be nice."
"Well, then, I can take you outside at least. We can sit on the airship for awhile, or something--"
"Auron?" Rikku tilted her head up at him, her eyes pleading like a little girl's.
"Hmm?" he looked down at her, exercising his twenty-five-year-old voice and freedom to use both eyes without a painful struggle to lift his right eyelid.
"I came to apologize. And to ask you if you'd like to be my date at the party and concert."
Auron smiled, forming creases along his clean-shaven face and tapping her nose lovingly with a fingertip. "I thought I might have to wait around until you were quiet enough for me to ask you."
"Heyyy!" Rikku nudged him, then took his arm in the same fashion that she did Gippal a little more than half an hour ago.